Category: Professional

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It was only an exhibition game, but just what the summer baseball doctor ordered. The Boone Bigfoots had fun on July 31, on “Hawaiian Night”, in defeating the Catawba Valley Stars, 16-3.

That the Stars were arguably playing above their competitive level would be an understatement, at least on this night. The independent, Hickory-based team had hitting, fielding and pitching shortcomings and the Bigfoots showed little mercy. In a game called after five innings, the Boone hard ballers pounded out 16 runs on 11 hits, including four home runs, one each by Tyson Bass, Rhogue Wallace, Tristan Salinas, and J.C. Navarro. Add in seven stolen bases and four fielding errors by the Stars, four wild pitches by the visitors, as well as four hit batters, and it is easy to see the mismatch.

The tilt against the Stars was the season debut of new pitcher Coleman McGinnis, a rising freshman at University of North Carolina, Asheville. McGinnis is a right hander from Mebane, N.C. He was credited as the winning pitcher in his debut, giving up three runs (one earned) on no hits. He walked five and struck out six of the 15 batters he faced. Jalen Chambers earned the save, going the final two innings and allowing no runs and no hits, walking one and striking out two of the seven batters faced.

“Coming into this evening, I wasn’t sure about what I thought of this game,” said Bigfoots head coach Randall Ortiz afterwards. “But now, seeing how much fun our guys had, I think it was the perfect remedy for being tired at this point in the season.”

Coastal Plain League baseball for college-eligible players can be rewarding for those participating, but it can also be a grind. Because of budget limitations, teams don’t play a two, three or four-game series against any particular opponent. The teams typically don’t have the money for hotel lodging nor extended bus transportation over multiple days, so they return home after every game.

For the Bigfoots, that might mean a two-hour bus ride down to High Point-Thomasville to play the Toms and two hours back after the game — or a 4-hour trip to Lexington, S.C. and a 6-hour trip to Macon, Ga. — and then another game either home or away the very next night.

For the ball players, the baseball may be fun and the experience adding to their development toward a potentially professional career, but the time away from home with nothing in the way of real job money for the summer… well, it can be trying. As the Bigfoots certainly know, roster turnover is a certainty as guys burn out, get injured or, in the case of the Boone team just a couple of weeks ago, teammates get drafted into Major League Baseball organizations.

Bigfoots return to Coastal Plain League action on Aug. 1, at home against the Martinsville Mustangs, 6:30 p.m. at Smith Stadium.

KEY BIGFOOTS BATTING PERFORMERS

• Tyson Bass: 4-4, 4 runs scored, 1 RBI, 2 SB, HR, 2B
• Tristan Salinas: 2-3, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, SB, HR
• Rhogue Wallace: 1-3, 3 runs scored, 3 RBIs, 2 SB, HR
• Will Dorrell: 1-3. 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs
• J C Navarro: 2-4, 1 run scored, 4 RBIs, HR

RELATED LINKS

• Box Score

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Hot-hitting Watauga High School alum Tristan Salinas rapped a two-out single to right in the bottom half of the third inning to get things started for the Boone Bigfoots vs. the Forest City Owls on July 28, then scored on a bases loaded walk for the home team’s first run. That proved to be just the beginning for both Salinas and the Bigfoots as Boone cruised to a 9-4 win at Smith Stadium.

Salinas had a big night at the plate, going 3-for-5 with one run scored, and one RBI, as well as his fifth double of the Coastal Plain League season, an RBI 2-bagger through the gap in centerfield. Salinas’ double came with two outs in the bottom the seventh inning, producing the final run of the Bigfoots’ 5-run explosion in the frame to gain separation from the Owls on the scoreboard.

If there was a bigger bat for the Bigfoots than Salinas’, it was in the hands of first baseman J.C. Navarro, who jumped out of a season-long slump to go 2-4, including a home run and a double. Navarro’s 6th-inning dinger broke a 3-3 deadlock that put Boone ahead for the first time and gave the Bigfoots momentum going into their monster seventh inning at the plate.

With three RBIs on the night and scoring one run, leadoff batter Will Dorrell was also a key contributor in the Bigfoots win, going 2-3, walking twice and striking out once. He also stole his second base of the season.

Boone’s starting pitcher Riley Bost was credited with the win, scattering eight hits over six innings and allowing three runs to the Owls, all in the first three innings. Although Bost’s stat line for the night was uneven, he was able to wriggle out of what could have been a disastrous, bases-loaded jam in the top of the third inning by striking out consecutive batters for the final two outs.

In relief, righthander Caleb Jones pitched two strong innings for the Bigfoots, giving up no runs on no hits while walking just one batter and striking out two.

Clayton Stewart, an App State transfer from Florence-Darlington Technical College, served at the Bigfoots closer in pitching the final inning. He gave up one unearned run in facing just four batters.

At this point in the Bigfoots’ first season in the CPL, no lead is safe, even in the late innings because of their lack of pitching depth. A couple of their hurlers have been injured and others have either gone home for the end of summer or gone back to school.

For the Owls, which earlier in the first half of the CPL slate proved to be the Bigfoots’ nemesis, leftfielder Will Butcher arguably had the team’s biggest night in going 2-4, with a home run, one run scored and two RBIs.

KEY BATTING PERFORMANCES

• BIG – Tristan Salinas: 3-5, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, 2B
• BIG – Will Dorrell: 2-3, 1 run scored, 3 RBIs, SB, 2 walks
• BIG – Tyler Bass: 2-3, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, 2 SB, 2 walks
• BIG – J C Navarro: 2-4, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, HR
• FOR – Will Butcher: 2-4, 1 run scored, 2 RBIs, HR
• FOR – Dominic Scavone: 2-4, 1 RBI, 2B
• FOR – Andrew Lanphere: 2-5, 2 runs scored

RELATED LINKS

• Box Score

RELATED STORIES

• Loss to Zookeepers
• Fall to HiToms
• Edge HiToms

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It was Star Wars Night at Smith Stadium for the Coastal Plain League contest between the Boone Bigfoots and the Asheboro Zookeepers. None of the “good guys” — Luke Skywalker, Yoda, Han Solo, Obiwan Konobi, etc. — could prevent the Dark Side from enveloping Beaver Field as the Bigfoots were caged by the Zookeepers, 11-0.

Far from lightsabers, the Boone bats might just as well have been chicken drumsticks. The Force certainly wasn’t with the Bigfoots on this night in front of an otherwise enthusiastic crowd.

Tall and lanky at 6-4, 152 lbs., the Zookeepers’ starting pitcher, Ethan Snyder (North Carolina A & T) had an impressive outing, going six full innings while giving up no runs on just three hits, walking three, with nine strikeouts.

While both teams stranded six runners left on base over the course of the run-rule shortened, seven-inning contest, the Zookeepers were able to get just short of a dozen other runners around. The visitors got doubles from the bottom of their batting order: designated hitter Todd Hudson, right fielder Jarrett Pokrovsky, and catcher Jake Holland. Meanwhile, leadoff batter and second baseman Jay Dillard might well have been the focal point of the Zookeepers’ offense, with a triple, two runs scored and two RBIs.

The Boone boys will attempt to reverse their fortunes on Saturday, July 15, on the road against the Forest City Owls, which won the first half of the Coastal Plain League’s West Division with a 14-8 record. For the second half, the Owls are currently in third place at 5-6, behind the Lexington County Blowfish (7-1) and Zookeepers (4-3).

At 4-6 for the second half, the Bigfoots are in the mix, but currently in sixth place. They finished the first half of the season in fourth place (10-12). For the league championship, the first half winner plays the second half winner.

RELATED LINKS

• Coastal Plain League standings

RELATED STORIES

• Bigfoots edge Mustangs
• Bigfoots fall to HiToms

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — A strong pitching performance by Jay Dill kept the Boone  bats all but silenced on June 12, as HP-Thomasville powered to a dominating, 6-2 win over the Bigfoots.

Dill, who plays baseball for Clemson University during the school year, was on the mound for seven innings for the HiToms. The 6-5, 250 lb. starter was hurling 93-95 mph fast balls with ease, mixing in the occasional curve and slider in allowing no runs on four hits, issuing just one walk while striking out seven Bigfoots batters. In all, Dill faced 24 batters and threw 111 pitches, 75 of them strikes (68 percent).

Dill’s counterpart on the mound for the Bigfoots, Walter Case, kept the game within reach by allowing just three runs on four hits in five innings of work, and much of the HiToms’ offensive production was the result of fielding errors by the Boone defenders (three errors while Case was on the mound, a total of six fielding errors for the game).

With the score still at 3-0 going into the bottom half of the 8th inning, the Bigfoots rallied with Dill’s absence, scoring two runs off HiToms relief pitcher, Joseph Ariola, with shortstop Carlos Amezquita figuring prominently in each. After second baseman Kai Wagner walked, Amezquita rapped a triple over the outstretched glove of the HiToms right fielder, then trotted home on an infield single by Tyson Bass. But that was it as Ariola settled down to get out of a 2-out, bases-load jam by striking out Boone’s Max Weller on four pitches.

The deficit tightened at 3-2, there was hope among the Bigfoots faithful that the High Country’s finest would stage a ninth inning rally to win the important Coastal Plain League game, but that was not to be. Offensively, the HiToms exploded for three runs on five hits in the top of the ninth to put the game all but away, then HP-Thomasville’s Ariola kept any Bigfoots thoughts of a game-winning rally at bay, helped out by an awkward baserunning error when Kai Wagner got caught in an indecisive pickle after the HiToms’ shortstop mishandled an infield pop-up.

The recent Major League Baseball draft provided bittersweet news for the Boone Bigfoots. Two all-star teammates, Nadir Lewis and Jalen Vasquez were both selected in the draft — Lewis by the San Francisco Giants in the 20th round and Vasquez by the Baltimore Orioles, also in the 20th round. While it was good to see their peers going professional, the Bigfoots were left without the services of two valuable teammates who made major contributions this summer, both in the field and at the plate.

The Bigfoots will look to get back on track Friday, July 14, when they host the Asheboro Zookeepers at Smith Stadium, with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch.

KEY OFFENSIVE PRODUCERS

• HTM – Kane Kepley, 1-2, 3 runs scored, 1 RBI, 2B, 3 walks, 2 stolen bases
• BFT – Carlos Amezquita: 1-4, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, 3B

BONUS PHOTOS

By Zach Smith. MARTINSVILLE, Va. – On a late night delayed by a broken down bus, the Boone Bigfoots relied on lengthy bullpen appearances and late game heroics to steal a thrilling, 9-8 victory over Martinsville.

The contest featured three lead changes going into the ninth inning, but Brayden Simpson ripped a 2-run double to put the ‘Foots on top before their last out. In the home half of the final frame, relief pitcher Zach Lewis shut the door on the Mustangs, earning three crucial outs on the way to his first save of the season.

Entering the contest, the CPL announced rosters for its annual All-Star Game, and both sides got to showcase their respective representatives. The Bigfoots’ selections are Nadir Lewis, Tyson Bass, Carlos Amezquita and Cordarius Butler.

Boone took a 5-4 lead after the first three innings in what looked to be an early, offensive shootout. Bats on both sides stagnated, though, as the next run wouldn’t be scored until the seventh inning. The Bigfoots extended their lead by tacking on another run but Martinsville tied the game in the bottom half of the inning. The Mustangs then took a one run lead in the eighth thanks to some defensive miscues by the ‘Foots.

Crunch Time

Boone entered the ninth inning with a one run deficit — looking to get its bats hot and stage a late, come-from-behind rally.

And they did. After a leadoff flyout, Lewis singled and Weller saw just one strike on his way to first via a walk. Wallace followed with a long fly ball to center, which moved both runners into scoring position when they made a risky decision to tag up and run on the centerfielder’s catch. Then, with the Bigfoots down to their last out, Simpson provided the decisive blow, knocking in both Lewis and Weller to push the Bigfoots in front — transforming the one-run deficit at the beginning of the inning and making it a one-run lead after the last out.

Martinsville still had one more opportunity to tie or get ahead to win the game but looked defeated already. And yet, that didn’t stop Carmichael from hitting a single to give the Virginians a glimmer of hope. Reese Robinett then put his body on the line, taking the Mustangs’ third hit-by-pitch of the game and a free pass to first base. It also put Carmichael in scoring position with the potential tying run at second base.

Boone went to the bullpen for the final time, bringing App State product Zach Lewis to the mound for a “save” opportunity. True to form, Lewis retired the next three batters on just seven pitches to solidify the win for the visitors and earn the save.

Coach has high praise

Bigfoots head coach Randall Ortiz was asked postgame about the bullpen’s ability to get the job done.

“My plan with [Jackson] Kirkpatrick was, go at least three, four innings. Of course, that didn’t work out today, but the bullpen today came big,” Ortiz said. “Guys like Nate Crissey, Parker [Kruglewicz] and Zach at the end. I think they definitely helped us win today’s game.”

Catcher Rhogue Wallace’s consistency at the plate in recent contests was also brought up by an elated Ortiz.

“He’s been the guy, he’s been swinging (the bat) well for us when he plays,” Ortiz said “Especially tonight, he had a great game. He was trying to put the ball in play every time and it definitely paid off for him.”

Ortiz also spoke on the dugout’s reaction to Simpson’s go ahead double, and what Simpson has brought to the team lately.

“It was a huge reaction from the dugout,” Ortiz said. “Lately, the past two or three weeks he got a lot better, competing on the at-bats and not a lot of swings and misses. He’s done a great job lately and that last inning was huge.”

Boone’s win improves the team record to 4-3 while Martinsville falls to 1-4. The Bigfoots are back at Smith Stadium on Wednesday at 6:30pm for a matchup against the visiting High Point- Thomasville HiToms.